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Books I have read pt2

Posted on by dots and spaces

Launchwave

I think it's been one of the more successful years in terms of book reading although a few days ago I read a feature in the newspaper of reader recommendations, one contributor began "..of the 100 books I've read this year." I spluttered on my coffee and spoit a clean t-shirt. In my estimations that's around 8 and a bit books a month, 1.85 books a week. Blimey. I can imagine one day that would be a rewarding challenge, like L'Etape or the Great North Run. I might not have enough brain to cope though, my head might explode. 

So, by far the most rewarding read has been On Fire by Larry Brown which was honest and heartbreaking. I loved the economy of language, a habit probably picked up by the need to work at speed, with precision and empathy. The hardest part of being a firefighter must surely be the conversations you have with victims trapped in cars, keeping them alert and distracted as the team work around them. There are many last breathes and the lies you tell people are a kindness and an unflinching compassion. "We spray the water in a clockwise motion, because that's the way the world spins…" I also didn't know that steam puts fire out, not water. Water stops fire from spreading and cools temperatures so that they don't re-ignite. 

I also finished The World Made Straight by Ron Rash which I also really enjoyed and I'm going to look out for the film version and also Serena  which is an adaptation of another of his books. I can see the temptation of turning them into film, as they lend themselves so easily but I won't think of them as any more than an aside. 

I have a few new books for the next few months. 

We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

Ayoade on Ayoade by Richard Ayoade

Sky's the Limit by Richard Moore 

Amulet by Roberto Bolano

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I've been attempting to read a Roberto Bolano novel for years, 2066 is by reputation the one to go for, but I sense I'll need an introduction. 

All these books should keep me busy, I have a feeling there are few more which I haven't included and my wish list is growing daily. Again, apologies for the Amazon links and in order to assuage my guilt I'm providing a link to a brilliant October Books in Southampton which you should really visit and support.

À bout de souffle

Posted on by dots and spaces

I thought it would make a wonderful addition to dots and spaces, to have included this trailer from a film I very much enjoyed, and which holds a special place in my heart. I learnt so much about what moving pictures could do, and with so much style and beauty, suspense, sophistication and poetry, the sort of film that makes you want to make movies. I worry that it's such a classic that it will become a sort of Robert Doisneau poster, so familiar it looses impact. But really, it's vital, alive and bristles with ideas. A template for any film-maker of worth.

The XX Basic Space

Posted on by dots and spaces

Really enjoying this superb video and the equally superb band playing. Seem to be so busy at the moment, with various projects getting off the ground and some exciting news about work. I'm enjoying this time, working with some people with a great sense of their own abilities, extraordinarily generous with their time and immensely encouraging.

Fireworks in the sky all around me as I type, and possibilities are endless.

Pillow Shots

Posted on by dots and spaces

So called in order to give the audience a little chance to rest between dialogues, this footage is has been put together from Ozu's films. It's serene and peaceful, I love the movement and the detail in the shots. He often takes the alternative shot, displacing the usual view.

We watched Claire Denis' beautiful film 35 Shot of Rum last night, and it was Ozu influenced, an intimate portrait of a broken family, a widowed father and his daughter. The shots of the trains talk about systems, links, journeys and routine. I love that school of film making which is about reading people, talking about how we interact with each other, how we live through our relationships. There are so many observed moments, dispassionate and yet intimate. I loved it. I love the pace of Claire Denis' film making, everything unfurls slowly, a mystery and a journey. If you're not familiar with her work, I would recommend Beau Travail.

garbage island on VBS

Posted on by dots and spaces

Fascinating documentary about the huge amount of plastic floating about the oceans. There’s a point in the pacific where currents bring all the pollution together and the number of parts of plastic per parts of water is dangerously high. Whilst there’s no actual floating island, that you can see, its because the plastic has broken down into so many small parts and as one of the crew say, its not the coke bottle you see, but the millions of particles that make up that coke bottle that have been dispersed through the ocean. Some amazing bits, for instance, they find few orange or red plastic particles, because these are what the fish eat…and we eat the fish.

This is part 1 of 3, head to the VBS site for more – an exciting channel, with some great content.

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